(Columbia, Tenn. - October 14, 2010) - - - The First Farmers & Merchants’ 2010-2011 Performance Series presented by Columbia State Community College channels 1950’s Rock and Roll with a tribute to Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper in The Winter Dance Party on Thursday, November 4 at 7 p.m. in the Waymon L. Hickman Building on the Columbia Campus.
The Winter Dance Party is the official live and authentic re-creation of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper's final tour and the only show endorsed by the Holly, Richardson, and Valens estates. Each live concert performance includes more than two hours of unbridled, high voltage entertainment featuring all the hit songs of the 50's era: That'll Be The Day, Peggy Sue, Oh, Boy, Rave on, La Bamba, Chantilly Lace and many more.
John Mueller, the critically acclaimed former star of the London/Broadway hit musical "Buddy..the Buddy Holly Story," performs as Buddy Holly, and Jay P. Richardson, Jr. fills his legendary father's footsteps as the Big Bopper. Richardson is actually the Bopper's son and brings with him the heritage and feeling that only he can offer. Ray Anthony performs as Ritchie Valens and is a renowned star of the "Legends of Rock and Roll" show at the Imperial Palace in Las Vegas. The very authentic and energetic four-piece band (guitar, drums, stand up bass and sax) includes Grammy award winning Mike Acosta on saxophone.
The Winter Dance Party show has performed in front of more than 2 million people on national TV for the Jerry Lewis Telethon, toured extensively throughout the United States at theatres, ballrooms, corporate events, casinos and most recently featured at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with John Mellencamp, Marshall Crenshaw and others. Canada and England have also been witness to this extraordinarily fun show. References are available on request as are highlights of the show on DVD.
Highlights over the years have included receiving the keys to the city of Green Bay, WI from the Mayor, playing in the legendary Surf ballroom on the same day Buddy, Ritchie, and the Big Bopper did 40 years prior, and performing on stage with Maria Elena Holly (Buddy's widow).
Ticket cost for adults are $20 and the student cost is $15. For complete ticketing information, please visit http://www.columbiastate.edu/performance-series-tickets. To charge tickets by phone, call (931) 540-2879. Visa, MasterCard and Discover are accepted. Tickets can also be purchased at the Columbia State Community College ticket office, located in Warf Science Building, Room 109 Monday-Thursday between noon and 6 p.m. and Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. The ticket box office will be open one hour prior to all performances in the Waymon L. Hickman building, room 100A.